Alex Hosking, Andrea Guterres, Angeline Armstrong, Elizabeth M. Drummond, Georgia Delves, Luna Pan, Soli, Sophie Min and Vidya Makan share in a $120,000 cash prize pool for 2023.
An incredible group of dynamic and inspiring Australian songwriters and composers have been announced as the recipients of the 2023 APRA Professional Development Awards (PDAs).
With an aim to create serious opportunities for emerging songwriters and composers, the APRA PDAs is a game-changing initiative presented by APRA AMCOS and NATSIMO (National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Music Office) that exist to provide impactful support in the form of a $10,000 cash prize at a pivotal stage in their respective careers.
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The 2023 PDAs showcase music creators across multiple disciplines, from Telenova’s Angeline Armstrong for popular contemporary, to pianist, composer and improviser Sophie Min, screen composer Luna Pan, Country & Americana artist Georgia Delves (Georgia State Line) and music theatre honouree Vidya Makan.
For the first time in 2023, NATSIMO honours three Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander songwriters in Yirrmal (NATSIMO General), Jem Cassar-Daley (NATSIMO Youth) and Andrew Gurruwiwi (NATSIMO Senior), who performed with his band at today’s announcement.
2023 PDA recipients
Andrea Guterres – Classical/ Experimental
Georgia Delves (Georgia State Line) – Country/ Americana
Alex Hosking – Dance/ Electronic
Soli – Hip Hop/ Rap/ R&B/ Soul
Sophie Min – Jazz/ Improvised
Vidya Makan – LIGHT – Music Theatre
Angeline Armstrong (Telenova) – Popular Contemporary
Elizabeth M. Drummond – Popular Contemporary
Luna Pan – Screen Composition
Yirrmal – NATSIMO (General)
Jem Cassar-Daley – NATSIMO (Youth)
Andrew Gurruwiwi – NATSIMO (Senior)
“We are very proud to support the next chapter for the three inaugural NATSIMO PDA category winners: Yirrmal, Jem Cassar-Daley and Andrew Gurruwiwi. While each winner is at a different career and life stage, they are all on the cusp of an exciting next step in their songwriting and artistry,” said Leah Flanagan, Director, NATSIMO
“The NATSIMO created these categories to reflect the diversity of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander music creator members and the professional strides they make in their own unique way. We are particularly proud to be able to recognise and award our senior songwriters who are admired and active contributors to the Australian musical and cultural landscape.”
For more information, visit apraamcos.com.au/pdas
